Louise Travis

Current Award and Date Achieved

IUA (2009)

Year started in the Super League

2007

Career highlights

World Cup (2011, 2019, 2023), Commonwealth Games (2022), World Youth Cup (2009, 2017), Constellation Cup (2010, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)

How and when did you get involved in umpiring?

I started umpiring when I was 16, my mother was the netball coach at my school and rather than sitting on the side line whilst she coached the other teams, I picked up the whistle and started umpiring.

What has been your favourite memory on or off court?

On court - the first game both my children came to watch - the 2018 Superleague Grand Final.

Off court – making many special friends home and abroad through netball and umpiring.

Do you have any pre-match rituals before a game?

I always eat two hours before any game, and must have a cup of coffee once I arrive at a venue!

I have the same warm up routine and playlist for each game, and must do it in the same order each time!

Who has had the biggest influence on your umpiring so far?

I’ve had so many people contribute to my journey as an umpire – assessors, mentors, coaches, players and fellow umpires. The biggest influence would have to be my mother who got me into umpiring in the first place – she is a fantastic coach and umpire and without her I would never have picked up a whistle all those years ago!

What is the best part about being a Super League umpire?

Being involved in the highest level of the sport you love – as a player, coach or official – is a huge honour and something I am thankful for. Being able to umpire the fantastic athletes the Superleague players are on a weekly basis is probably the best part.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming an umpire?

Take every game as a learning opportunity – set goals for each game and self-analyse how you performed against those objectives at the end. It doesn’t matter if this is a local, regional, Superleague or international game. And most of all, have fun and enjoy your umpiring!